Air & Sea (... or "Fly & Sail")

   The training will be conducted on complex airplanes with variable pitch propellers, retractable landing gear, and usually more advanced instrumentation.

   Unlike the Private Pilot License, the Commercial Pilot License permits you to ask for money in return for your services as a pilot!  Having said that, as per the FARs the options are narrowly prescibed.  To get into details, let me set up some scenarios:

   If you have a Commercial Pilot License, and someone hires you to fly him or her in the airplane they own, and you have the training, you can do it.

   If you have a Commercial Pilot License, and someone hires you to fly him or her in an airplane rented from another company, even if you have the training, you can not do it.

There are only three ways (besides flight-instructing) to earn money with a Commercial Pilot License:

1. You are hired by the owner of the airplane

2. You are operating and are certified by an "air-taxi" company governed by §135 of the FARs

3. You are operating and are certified by an airline governed by §121 of the FARs.

What are the requirements?

Besides a Private Pilot License and Class II medical (unless giving flight-instruction), you need 250 hours total time with certain amount apportioned to night -, cross-country - respectively, as well an Instrument Flight Rating (see http://airandsea.biz/various_faa_ratings).

   A "typical" first §91 Commercial Pilot job outside of of being an instructor, would be flying a Piper Navajo or a "400 series" Cessna.  These are capable, twin-engine, airplanes flying at approximately 175MPH, and their capabilities can turn long two-day business trips into a single day with plenty of time to work while being en-route!

   The employer usually provides intensive type-specific training on such aircraft with a company such as "FlightSafety," ensuring greater in-depth knowledge of systems, and handling.

Typical Training Facilities

http://www.flightsafety.com/

http://www.cae.com/en/

http://www.simulator.com/

http://www.prestosim.com/